The present study aimed to evaluate the agronomic performance of sweet potato genotypes and estimating genetic parameters. The experiment consisted of 65 varieties (clones) of the sweet potato germplasm bank from the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valley, installed in the design of randomized blocks with three replications and 15 plants per plot. Were evaluated green mass of branches (MV), total productivity of roots (PT), average weight of total roots (PMT), commercial yield (PC), the average weight of marketable roots (PMC), shape of roots (FORM) and insect resistance (IR). Considering the gains of selection for these characteristics, we infer that clone selection can lead to significant genetic progress. The characters PT, PMT, PC and PMC are positively correlated, so selecting any of them carries genetic gains in others. Selection for root production can be conducted in the character PT because its evaluation is simpler and correlates with the commercial production, which is of utmost importance. The selection promotes increases in MV character in PMC and PMT and causes no effects in others. For most traits were prevalent environmental effects on genetic. The BD-15, BD-42 and BD-67 genotypes showed better agronomic performance.
Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.); root yield; genetic variability; heritability.
